This article investigates the period of the Soviet religious policy, which lasted from 1917 to the early 1940s. It has been proved that the first phase of this period — 1920s. — coincided with the establishment of the Soviet power in Ukraine and is characterized by the beginning of the persecution of religion as an ideology that opposed the bolshevik’s ideology. The second stage, which began at 1929 and lasted till the mid-1930s., was associated with the «socialization» of the Ukrainian village. It led to the destruction of the church as the social institution. The third phase of anti-religious struggle began in the second half of the 1930s. and lasted until 1943. The most stringent methods to physical extermination of the clergy, religious and material values and direct destruction of churches were used at this period. It has been founded the main directions of pressure on the church, schismatic activity among clergy and faithful, destroying the material base of the church, constant harassment and repression. A wide range of violent methods were used during implementation of this policy. It has been concluded that dissatisfaction with government policy caused opposition antireligious activity to the Soviet government, which should be seen as a type of general resistance to Stalinist totalitarian regime.